36 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Inclusive Playground LuBird’s Light Playground Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas Street, Aurora 720-990-6743 stanleymarketplace.com While adaptive equipment does exist in some playgrounds, it’s usually limited to a few handicapped-accessible swings. But LuBird’s Light Playground at Stanley Marketplace is for everyone, with spinners, treehouses and swings that accommodate wheelchairs; rolling slides; musical sen- sory play equipment, and smooth, easy-to- maneuver surfacing. Under its all-inclusive policy, children of all abilities are welcome to mingle, which is good for everyone, and a lesson in learning how to get along with friends who are different. It’s just the kind of fun the Stanley stands by. Best Playground on Stilts Arkins Promenade Between 35th and 38th streets on the former Arkins Court denvergov.org Arkins Court is dead, long live Arkins Promenade! Built atop repurposed tele- phone poles, this new, elevated walkway designed by Tres Birds rises just north of the RiNo ArtPark along the South Platte for a bird’s-eye view of industrial-zone nature. At its highest point, the promenade soars to 28 feet high as it zigs and zags for 400 feet on the former roadway, providing elevated webbing to climb. On the ground level, re- lax at picnic tables or on porch swings and recycled milk-jug benches. Welcome to the new urban jungle. Best LGBTQ+ Fitness Center Vibe Gym & Wellness Collective 4045 Pecos State, Suite 160 vibegymandwellness.com No matter how much you want to get fi t, a public gym is not a fun place to do it, particularly when you happen to be non- binary — but that’s just the type of fi tness seeker that Vibe Gym serves. Leave your body shame at the door and come inside, try a class or two, meet with a personal trainer, sign up for wellness services, or simply walk in during open gym hours and use the equipment. Vibe even offers child care, which is free with a membership or day pass. Finally, a place just for you. Best Self-Defense Class Way of the Crane Martial Arts and StreetWize Self Defense 1925 55th Street, Boulder 303-442-7559 wayofthecrane.com Since 1983, Way of the Crane has been empowering people to feel safe and in control. The self-defense classes, which range from beginner to personalized and in-depth instruction, focus not only on the physical skills it takes to protect yourself, but also the mental strength needed to keep calm and take charge of even dangerous situations. Students will leave with more confi dence not just in their self-defense abilities, but in the rest of their lives, too. Best Inexpensive Date Night Aqua Golf 501 West Florida Avenue 720-865-0880 cityofdenvergolf.com Romance doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, and this mini golf course proves it. After all, it’s a classic dating move to cozy up to a partner under the guise of improv- ing their swing. At Aqua Golf, you can rent a bucket of balls and a driver, then aim for the buoys on the liquid driving range or take on the 36-hole mini golf course for hours of fun at a very heartwarming price. Best Store on the 16th Street Mall I Heart Denver Store 500 16th Street, #264 720-317-2328 iheartdenverstore.com How much do we heart the I Heart Den- ver Store, which has hung around through COVID and the construction project on the 16th Street Mall, continuing to offer great gifts and other keepsakes from over 200 talented Colorado artists and designers (those in the consignment program keep 60 percent of sales) as well as other makers? Started as an artist incubator by Samuel Schimek a dozen years ago, this business has grown to be a must-stop for any tour- ist…if they can get to the Denver Pavilions. Best Store on East Colfax Marczyk Fine Foods 5100 East Colfax Avenue 303-243-3355 marczykfi nefoods.com There’s always something cooking at Mar- czyk’s. In April 2002, Marczyk Fine Foods opened the doors of its fi rst market on East 17th Avenue, a place that celebrated qual- ity ingredients and products — and local community. In 2011, the crew behind the store — husband and wife Pete Marczyk and Barbara Macfarlane, as well as brother Paul Marczyk — opened a second outpost in an old Safeway on East Colfax, a bigger store that featured all of the same amenities, along with a kitchen to up the ante on prepared foods and a next-door liquor store. Over the years, Marczyk’s has added a bakery and an even bigger food-prep facility (with a lineup overseen by chef Jamey Fader), as well as events that draw traffi c off of Colfax, but the goal of emphasizing both quality and community remains. Best Store on West Colfax Roselady Co. 3921 West Colfax Avenue 720-799-3642 instagram.com/roseladyco In 2022, Denver welcomed back the Rose Lady, now rebranded as Roselady Co., but with the same classic exterior that’s a Col- fax landmark. The longtime fl ower shop is still family-owned; Daniele Riopelle has revamped it in honor of her mother, Deb- bie Orban-Rosen, who’d run it since 1985. After a three-year pause following Orban- Rosen’s death, Rio- Shopping and Services continued from page 34 continued on page 38 HI-DIVE.COM - 303.733.0230 HI-DIVE BROADWAY - DENVER HAPPY HOUR 4-8 PM DAILY - $3 COORS & $4 WELLS WEDNESDAY 3.29 THURSDAY 3.30 FRIDAY 4.1 SATURDAY 4.2 SUNDAY 4.3 MONDAY 4.4 TUESDAY 4.5 WEDNESDAY 4.6 BUCKAROO HULLABALOO VINTAGE MARKET MOVETE CHIQUITA VINYL CLUB (CUMBIA/BOOGALOO) MUSCLE BEACH/ENDLESS NAMELESS/ LIMBWRECKER WILD POWWERS/CALAMITY/BODY/ DANA DJ MARIKA WEEDEATER/HIGH TONE SON OF A BITCH/ ADAM FAUCETT/OLD SKIN TICKETS: WWW.HI-DIVE.COM FREE POOL DJ RYAN WONG DON’T MISS OUT ON A THING! SIGN UP FOR WESTWORD’S DAILY BITE-SIZED UPDATES ON TOP MUSIC, NEWS, & EVENTS IN DENVER! WESTWORD.COM/NEWSLETTERS W IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
